About Team Driving

Rainy's latest article, Dispelling The Myths Of Team Driving, was included in the latest Weekend Dispatch.

It got me thinking - and not just thinking about how a person has enough time to be a top-tier driver and manage to write helpful articles too (overachievers are annoying...lol) - How might a new driver avoid being "tricked" into team driving?

When I applied for CDL school I was told I had to check a box saying that I was willing to drive as a team. The first day of school we had to sign a contract saying we would team drive if we finished school AND training before the first of the year.

I knew I had no chance of finishing school and driving with a trainer until well after JAN 1.

After a month with my trainer (February) he received an email telling him to inform me that I would be required to team drive once I upgraded.

I responded to the sender, asking him to show me in the contract I had signed, where it said I would be required to team drive. I never heard back from him.

Luckily, after I upgraded I was given a choice to go solo or team.

So is there anything a potential driver can do to protect his/herself from being forced to team drive? For instance, if a recruiter tells you you will be a solo driver then after upgrading you are told you must team? (this didn't happen to me but I've heard of it happening to others)

I have never heard of a company forcing people to team drive without it being disclosed upfront. It seems like a good way to have 2 drivers hate each other and the company if forced into it.